Town Square

177-unit, 4-story apartment complex OK'd across from Hart Middle School

Original post made
on Mar 26, 2014

The Pleasanton City Council has approved a developer's plan to build an apartment complex on West Las Positas Boulevard across from Hart Middle School with 177 units and buildings as high as four stories on the 6-acre site.

Can't wait for the construction noise and traffic to commence. Followed by even more traffic, an increase in crime, pedestrian fatalities near Hart Middle School, additional strain on our already limited resources and public services, all to appease the hand wringing left and theri hand picked developer comrades.
I am grateful that the council decided not to allow easy access to the arroyo for drug dealing and use. Although, it will be no time before one of the tenants or their friends cuts the fence to allow access, kinda like our southern border.

Posted by Right is so Wrong
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 26, 2014 at 7:55 pm

Talk about the sky is falling. Wow! Let me get this straight. A vacant, virtually un-leasable circa 1984 gradually deteriorating commercial eyesore is preferable to in-demand modern market rate apartments built by a reputable developer in a predominantly commercial area with direct access to major City thoroughfares, adjacent schools, parks, and retail shopping centers. Geez, sounds like a terrible place to put new housing...I may not be a math wiz but my reading skills are pretty decent, so using my pedestrian math skills I come up with less than 7% of the 177 units having a potential to be designated "affordable". I'd put real money that Summerhill ponies up the almost laughable $2,300 per unit to make all of the 177 units market rate. That's probably less than one months rent! Also news to me that people who rent are incapable of following basic traffic laws and have a propensity to commit serious crimes. That's the last time I ever rent out my vacation home! Good grief. Get a life.

Posted by Bill
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 27, 2014 at 12:46 pm

@Right is so Wrong...take a hike down the Arryo Mucho Trail and see for yourself what these neighbors in Parkside are faced with. This will be like living across the street where your neighbors live in a four story houses. Plus your across the street neigbors will have 4 times as many people living in the same square footage as you do. What the city leaders have done to Parkside is criminal. They will not be forgotten come voting time.

Posted by Jtjh
a resident of Vintage Hills Elementary School
on Mar 27, 2014 at 12:57 pm

>> At a Planning Commission public hearing on the project, attorney Patrick Kernan, a former Pleasanton school board member who was representing the district, said the school district and Summerhill had reached an agreement on payments it will make to the district. <<

Are the amounts of such "agreements" a matter of public record? If not, I think they should be. I am nether for, or against, this particular development. But I am very suspicious of non-public-record financial agreements between developers and public bodies. Especially in the case of planning committees.

I find it interesting that Pat Kernan spoke on behalf of the district. His PUSD board record is scarcely spotless. But, as was pointed out in another thread, he is listed as an attorney for Kingsley Bogard LLP. the legal firm which, of course, also represented the district in the Walnut Grove investigation.

Kernan is also the attorney that said the agreement with Signature Properties on building the Neal school was ironclad.

With respect to making an agreement, if there really was one, it had to be done in public at a school board meeting. The administration does not have the right to make decisions like this behind closed doors. Has anybody found the public record on this agreement or is Kernal blowing smoke with that comment?

The Summerhill complex is being built on property that was rezoned from commercial to residential because of the lawsuit brought on to the city. The mayor said the city had no choice because they had not met their RHNA requirements. He said their hands were tied and they had no choice but to approve it to meet the RHNA numbers.
Well, well, what do you know. The RHNA numbers were wrong, they 'miscalculated' and the city now has an excess of 1200 units. They did NOT have to rezone that property and agree to let Summerhill build 177 apts. Isn't it amazing that the facts about the numbers being wrong came to the light immediately AFTER the plans for this Summerhill complex were approved.
Something is very very wrong here! The residents of this town, and most of all, Parkside have been bamboozled! I wonder how much money went in to election campaigns and various 'other places' to get this project approved.
Those on the council up for reelection will NOT be getting my vote.

Posted by Bill
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 28, 2014 at 12:19 pm

Maybe the city is using common core math to calculate the RHNA numbers?
Just a guess but wouldn't the destruction of the ATT complex basically take away a lot of jobs used to calculate the jobs to housing units ratio? Especially if a high density apartment complex was built in its place.
First its Suzi Su, then its the PUSD fiasco, now its building high density apartment complexes in single family residential neighborhood backyards because someone from the city couldn't add or subtract.

Posted by liberalism is a disease
a resident of Birdland
on Mar 28, 2014 at 1:57 pmliberalism is a disease is a registered user.

Maybe 'right is wrong', the math whiz, wrote up the figures for the RHNA requirements. Maybe he can figure out how much less water we'll have available for the current utility-paying residents, once the Pleasanton projects are built.

Mitch, BART brings poor people to Pleasanton (not just apartments). That's where most of the best drug deals are happening. But, you knew that already. You're so cheeky.

Posted by Nunia
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 28, 2014 at 5:53 pm

What's this...People opposing change and progress. That's weird. Let them build it so "they" will come. God forbid "they" come and ruin your precious city...flood your schools and take up your side of the path on the trail. Just keep to the right and "they" will go around you. I'm pretty sure they won't hurt you.

I watched as was very angry at Pentin's comments. He just wants a trail for his bike and buddies, too bad for everyone else. There is not even trail there now. These items were carefully discussed with the builder and my neighbors, and he wants to ignore months of work.

I am not a fan and won't ever vote for him again. Does anyone know when he is up for election?

Posted by Becky Dennis
a resident of Foxborough Estates
on Apr 4, 2014 at 9:58 am

Not that I have agreed with all Jerry Pentin's votes by any means, but I think he showed a lot of character and class with this one.
It doesn't matter how many people agree to deny Pleasanton residents equal access to public facilities based on their income or status as property owners, it's wrong. Clearly Pentin's decision to vote against the plan came from the heart and sense of fairness. But the conditions of approval for the development also clearly violate Pleasanton residents' right of equal protection granted by the Constitution. Sharing trails with the people who ring up our groceries, care for our children, repair our cars etc. is part of the heavy price we all must pay to live in a free country.
Thank you, Jerry!

Posted by liberalism is a disease
a resident of Birdland
on Apr 4, 2014 at 3:56 pmliberalism is a disease is a registered user.

Becky, you cannot be serious. You obviously have never been on the trail on the north side of this stretch of the Arroyo. It is accessible through holes in the fence behind some of the businesses still operating next to the new projects to be developed. It goes virtually nowhere. To the west, it deadends at the Hopyard overcrossing; to the east it dead ends near Inglewood Dr.
From your elitist perch in the 'Estates', you can look down your nose at all those taxpayers in Parkside and crow about how the poor people soon to be deposited across from hundreds of single family homes are having their rights denied and pretend your stance is not hypocritical.
I'm sure those of your ilk would love nothing better than to cash checks provided by the developers and lobbyists and expect adjacent homeowners to just quietly agree to your infringement.
Fact is, that trail amounts to nothing more than a long alleyway, fronted by a drainage culvert. Provide easy access to this deadend alley and you've got the perfect environment for drug dealing, loitering and assaults.
Good thing you don't have to address those issues in the 'Estates'......

And liberalism is a disease, its a good thing she doesn't have to have this in 'her' backyard. It's easy for her to sing the praises of Pentin, none of this will affect her up there in the 'Estates'
There is just so many things the residents of Parkside are going to have to endure with this development. Why this city could not have chosen one of the other parcels in the business park for this development just baffles me. There are sites that would not have affected anyone. Guess the money pay off for this site was the biggest.
The noise from the garbage trucks alone at 4 am will be a burden we will have to endure. What about the sounds from the heating and AC units. Noise travels across that open space.
What about the crowding of schools? Summerhill states that this 177 apt complex will add a total of 68 kids to the schools. And, we have to cut our water usage by 20% so there will be enough for all these new people.
This whole project is just wrong!

Posted by Joey
a resident of Pleasanton Meadows
on Apr 5, 2014 at 3:55 am

Great point Kari. The governor joins the Urban Habitat lawsuit to take on more low income housing, then takes our water supply from the north. We are left with mostly low quality-hard well water and a 20% water reduction.

Thanks Becky. Btw, Pentin voted down one of your apartment projects, I'm surprised you are singing his praises over a trail access.

Posted by Housing
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 6, 2014 at 9:53 am

Becky, you have no right judging the folks down in the valley. How about you donate your back yard to allow for apartment building, or on your block? When you sell your million dollar house, rent a 1 bedroom apartment and donate the rest of money to charity, only then will we take you seriously? Or since it's not directly impacting you, it's a different story?

It's interesting a majority of people in favor of these projects either a) will profit from it, b) do not live in the area and will not be impacted by it or c) it's politically motivated.
However, when the people who will be directly impacted speak out, they are considered the 'bad' people.

Posted by Right
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 6, 2014 at 7:43 pm

Cholo, stick to issues in the barrios of Livermore and butt out of Pleasanton zoning issues. You may be legally able to voice your opinion, but no one in our town is interested in listening to your mindless rants. Your viewpoint is altered by years of abuse of various substances, which has skewed your view of reality. And I'm not talking about agent orange.....

Posted by Me Too
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Apr 6, 2014 at 10:58 pm

Wouldn't it be better to deny this and let Livermore and Dublin attract all of the new residents and businesses? This is Pleasanton after all, can't we just let the city age with dignity and let all of the surrounding neighbors take our revenue and property value?

Posted by Hacienda Housing Park
a resident of Birdland
on Apr 6, 2014 at 11:17 pm

Actually, by replacing a commercial building with yet more houses, Pleasanton is losing jobs. And since there are no elementary schools in Hacienda 'Business' Park, I suppose all the playgrounds at the elementary schools will all be filled with portables very soon.

Should we now call it "Hacienda Housing Park"?

Maybe we can add some stories (4-story high schools anyone?) to accommodate the 3000+ students these will soon have. [After all, PUSD sold their South Pleasanton high school to developers (more houses) and from the proceeds created a Sycamore Fund for technology that they have 'borrowed' from that no longer seems to have any money.]

Posted by Bill
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Apr 7, 2014 at 5:44 pm

That's what I meant about this apartment will open a Pandora's Box. It seems all the zoning and height restriction limitations were thrown out the window. How many 4 story apartment complexes are now in Pleasantonů.none. That is because Pleasanton had a height restriction in place to prevent absurd looking buildings like this. Take a trip down to Milpitas and stop at Montague Expressway and McCandless Drive. There is a block of this type of apartments that replaced business properties. It looks like a ghetto that is brand new. Over 1,000 apartments within the length of one block. Unbelievable insanity. What did our Mayor mean when he said his hands were tied? I think this statement went over the heads of the people he was talking to on the site of this complex, but what exactly what did he mean.? Did he mean he was told by some influential people that this project was going to happen or else? Was the property owner an entity that was hurting financially if this project didn't go through. Why would the city council care or not care if a business entity was in financial trouble? It is very strange that you never see the property owner listed. On all the other properties you do. This city council is the worst ever in the 25+ years I have lived in Pleasanton. The hippy mayor did some weird things but at least she has morals and business ethics and a respect for the residents.

Posted by Sasha
a resident of Valley Trails
on Apr 8, 2014 at 12:38 am

As a 20 year resident of another neighborhood, I am horrified what our city has voted to do to the Parkside neighborhood. Not only will their property values crash but 4 stories looking down into their yards and homes is just unfair. How can this even be legal? I hope there are some brilliant lawyers in that neighborhood.

Posted by Bill
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Apr 8, 2014 at 8:50 am

Anyone know how to file an injunction to halt this apartment complex? I want to know if the zoning, permit, planning, inspection departments were forced to accept the provisions of this project or else loose their jobs. Something smells really fishy. The Pleasanton City of a few years ago would not have allowed this project. It is so out of character with the rest of Pleasanton. To Becky Dennis - before you put pen to paper why don't you actually visit this site before writing comments that do not make any sense.

There were many many Parkside residents that tried to stop this. The mayor said there was nothing that could be done to stop it. It was part of the rezoning the city did to meet the required RHNA numbers from the lawsuit brought against the city. He said they were required to have so many units and that was that!
The residents of Parkside worked hard and long but were fighting a loosing battle from the beginning. There were other rezoned sites that would meet the requirements and wouldn't disrupt the lives of anyone! If someone were to dig deep I bet they would learn that money changed hands somewhere. That building has sat empty for many years so of course the owner would jump on the chance to sell it to developers.
And isn't it amazing that as soon as the plans for this Summerhill project were approved by the city it was announced that the RHNA numbers were wrong! Now there is an overage and because of the excess they don't need to fulfill for many years.
Surprise surprise!!!!
I don't think there is a resident of Parkside that doesn't feel like they were conned! And the blame goes to our present city council. The very ones that are supposed to be working for us!!

Posted by liberalism is a disease
a resident of Birdland
on Apr 9, 2014 at 11:05 amliberalism is a disease is a registered user.

No trees will be harmed in this process referred to as 'reverse-gentrification'. However, there will be lots of weeds planted, some taking root and others blowing seeds in the wind to invade your neighborhood.